Role Player/Decoy

The TSA Canine Program deploys canine teams in support of day-to-day activities that protect the nation's transportation systems. Multiple volunteers are needed weekly.

TSA PDX K9 decoy volunteers provide support by aiding in reality-based training and testing scenarios in a live airport environment. Your role as a decoy volunteer will be to carry a concealed training aid and participate in real life airport activities in areas where a Passenger Screening Canine Teams conduct threat detection searches. Role players provide important reinforcement opportunities for our working K9 partners to be rewarded for successfully isolating explosive odor threats during training scenarios.

Decoys must be at least 18 years old with a Government issued ID. However, we welcome participants under 18 to join a qualified decoy. This is a great opportunity for those under 18 to earn volunteer hours for school projects. If you are interested in this unique volunteer opportunity, please click the "I Want to Help" button and include the days of the week you are available in the comments section. Volunteer opportunities are scheduled one day at a time, with the opportunity to schedule through-out the year. This is an on-going year-round volunteer opportunity, as we schedule decoys multiple days a week.

Role players must be able to stand/sit for a couple of hours, navigate walking/moving through lines, and have no fear of animals. Our dogs search for the presence of target odor and may follow, target sniff or sit next to you with enthusiasm.